Steamboat prides itself on being well-regarded as a resort and town, and sets the standard in several ways both in the mountains and throughout the community. The town is known as Ski Town U.S.A. and has by far produced the most winter Olympians of any town, with over 100 Steamboat athletes and counting competing in several different disciplines. Along with this, Steamboat Resort prides itself on continuing to meet issues like carbon neutrality and community outreach head-on.

The fact of the matter is that Steamboat is a great source of adventure, joy, and community for so many people. It’s a responsibility that isn’t taken for granted. While all of these are staples for Steamboat, occasionally as a resort we have an opportunity to impact someone more uniquely. Recently, we had an opportunity of this nature, and we wanted to share the experience with those who weren’t involved.

A few weeks ago, Steamboat had the honor of hosting Camden and his family. The Make-A-Wish Foundation reached out to Steamboat with the opportunity for a Wish Assist, as Camden’s wish was to visit Colorado, see real snow, and experience skiing. Camden is 7 years old, lives in South Carolina, and is bravely fighting cancer. Steamboat was the obvious choice for Camden as his aunt lives in the area. His mother, father, and grandmother all traveled out with him to Steamboat to join him for his Steamboat ski excursion.

Camden’s schedule was action-packed, and made the most of Steamboat in just a few days. Starting the first day off with arrivals at the Steamboat Grand and gearing up, the family was squared away for a fun few days. Camden took a private lesson the first two days with pro-Trish O’Connell. Upon his arrival at Greenhorn Ranch, he was met by a welcome tunnel created by the Steamboat Snowsports Instructors and Daisy, the avalanche dog! His family members were able to ride the Wild Blue Gondola up to Greenhorn Ranch and watch him progress. In the afternoon of the first day, Camden’s mom and Grandma were treated to a spa day at the Rocky Mountain Day Spa while the skiing wrapped up.

Camden enjoyed a personalized skier cake created by our chefs at The Range, and the family went out to a Haymaker sleigh ride dinner, where Camden was greeted with a cowboy hat and stick horse. Along with his three days on the slopes, the third of which was a free-ski day, Camden worked with Ski Patrol to do a radio call to the rest of the resort. The family also had a final day that included a snowmobiling adventure. All in all, it was a fun, action-packed, and memorable few days in Steamboat for Camden and his family.

Along with the resort, the local high school got involved with gathering gifts and fundraising efforts for Make-A-Wish, which really made this an amazing community affair.

This wasn’t just about fulfilling a wish—it was about bringing joy and hope to a family facing incredibly difficult circumstances. Camden’s courage and bright spirit left an indelible mark on all of us, reminding everyone involved of the importance of family, community, and cherishing the simple yet profound moments in life. For us, it was such a rewarding experience because it reminded us of the bigger picture—how our work and the incredible opportunities here in Steamboat can truly impact others in meaningful ways.

It was a privilege to share a slice of our beautiful snow globe with Camden and his family. This experience was a powerful reminder of the strength of hope, community, and the impact of small acts of kindness, and it’s something we’ll all carry with us for a long time.